Bow-facing oar



fNoModel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I. D. WRIGHT.

Bow PAGING OAR.`

15.522,545. PatentedJu1ys,1s94.

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

LVD. WRIGfl-Tl?. BOW PAING OAR.

No. 522,545. Pa-tentedJuly 3, 1894.

W9-webwml" A I? 1.1mmw STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC D. WRIGHT, OF SEDALIA, MISSOURI.

Bow-FACING AR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 522,545, dated July 3, 1894.

Application iilecl J' une 6,1893. Serial No. 476,779. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, ISAAC D. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sedalia,

in the county of Pettis and State of Missouri,-

v and efficient means for communicating a reverse motion from an oar-handle to the oarblade, whereby the oarsman is enable to face in the direction of progress while applying power in the ordinary manner to the oar-handie, and also to provide means for folding the oar-handle and blade so as to lie within the line of the gunwale when the same are not in use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, and the novel features of my invention are embraced in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming va part of this specifications-Figure lis a perspective view of a device embodying my invention, shownin operative position. view of the motion-communicating devices. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of one of the rotary heads within its attached ferrule, the upper and lower blades being shown detached. Figl is a similarview of the gunwalestrap and spindle. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the binding yoke for fastening the oar-handle and blade in the ferrules." Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views of the top and bottom connecting-plates, respectively, the latter being reversed to show the depending ears. Fig. Sis a detail view of a lowe'r cap-plate provided with peripheral teeth for communicating motion by intermeshing gears. Fig. 9 is a perspective 'View showing a gunwale-strap, journals, lower connecting-plate, and spindle, illustrating a different mode of attaching the device to the gunwale. Y Fig. l0 is a detail view of a modified form of head, showing the ferrule omitted and the oar inserted and secured in a socket vin the said head, In this Fig. 2 isa horizontal central' sectionalI view the flanges of the-caps of the head are also omitted.

In all the views of the drawings, like numerals of reference indicate like or corresponding parts. v l

v 1 and 2 represent, respectively, thev upper and lower connecting-plates, of which the latter is swiveled by suitable means to the gunwale of the boat, to permit of vertical movement of the oar, and is provided 4(in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 7) with depending perforated ears, 3, which are mounted upon a spindle, 4, held in a position parallel tothe gunwale by a gunwale-strap, 5, having up-turned perforated terminals, 6. These connecting plates carry vertical pivot-bolts, 7, upon whichv are secured rotatable heads, 8 and 9, having radially-disposed split ferrules, 10. In the ferrule which is carried by the head 8 is fitted the oar-handle, 11, and inI the ferrule of the head 9 is fitted the shank of the oar-blade,

l2. The oar-handle and blade are fixed se-` curely in their respective ferrules'by means of split yokes, 13, which embrace said ferrules near their outer ends and rhave their free extremities connectedby adj ustingbolts, 14e.

The heads are *cylindrical` in shape, and

(upon their upper and lower ends may be fitted caps, 15 16, which are flanged, as shown at 17, (Fig. 3) and are provided with inwardly-extending pins, 18, to engage notches, 19, in the edges of the heads.AV In Fig. 10 the caps 15 16 are shown without flanges.

In the construction shown in Fig. l, the heads are connected by flexible bands, 20, which are crossed intermediate the heads, and the extremities of which are connected, respectively, to opposite sides of thesame by clips, 21. These clips are angular in shape, their body-portion, 22, being securedby means of screws,`23, to the bodies of the heads, and the upturned ends, 24, thereof are notched to receive the enlarged ends,'25, of the bands.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that a backward movement of the free end of the oar-handle will produce a similar or corresponding movement of the yfree end of the blade.

The connecting-plates may be provided with terminal segmental flanges, 26, to ernbrace the outer sides of the heads, as shown IDO at one end of the bottom plate in Fig. 7, but such fiange may be omitted without materially affecting the operativeness or eficiency of the invention.

Fig. 8 shows a modified form of connection between the heads, in which the lower capplate is provided with peripheral teeth, 27,

to mesh with a corresponding series of teeth upon the other cap-plate, thus constituting another method of transmitting motion from the oar-carrying to the blade-carrying head.

In Fig. 9, I have shown a somewhat difterent form of` the means for connecting the lower plate 2 to the gunwale,`the same con-N sisting of journals having hinged caps, 2S, to receive the ends of the spindle 4, such caps being held in position by rotatable headed pins, 29, engaging notches, 30,in the freeends of thecaps.

`FVirercpe, metal straps, or chain may `bd employed as the material for forming the flexible motion-transmitting bands, as pre-4 ferred. 'lhespace or `interval `between the free edgesk of the iianges upon the cap-platesA forms a groove for the reception of the liexi-t ble bauds to prevent vertical displacement` thereof. Lost motion or slack in bands may-be compensatedfor by the adjustmento'f the clips 21, whiclrlatter may be provided with slots or perforations for this purpose of taking up the slack. 4In practice, I allay, `under some circumstances, modify the exact construction as here-` in illustratedfand described, and it is obvious that numerous changes and variations may be made Ias mechanical expedients or 1equivalents. I therefore, reserve the right to make all variations, changes, and departures as to form, proportion, and minor details of con-l struction which come within the spiritaud scope of` my invention as defined and set forth in the appendedclaims. Instead of employing arotary head of metal provided with a split ferrule and tightening yoke, I may use the form othead shown in Fig. 10, which consists of a hollow wooden drum having end caps flush with the side of the drum and devoid of overlapping flanges. 5o

In this instance, it wi1l also appear that I have dispensed with the oar-receiving ferrule, the A oar being simply secured in socket or opening in the head and then fastened by screws or otherwise.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

`vided with inwardly extending; pins to engage notches in the edges of saidl heads, means for connecting the oar-handle and blade to the said heads, and operating connections between the heads, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination, with the connecting plates l and 12, the heads S and D swiveled thereto, and the` plate 2 having the perforated ears 3'depend ing therefrom, of the gunwale strap 5 having upturned perforated terminals 6, and the spinidle 4 carried thereby and upon which the connect-ing plates 1 aud`2 are mounted by means `of the ears 3, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I ailfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC D.` WRIGHT. XVitnesses:

ALBERT E. MCCLURE, CARLON C. VAN WAGNER. 

